Oak Ridge Tours

August 25 - Oak Ridge Tours

The U.S. Department of Energy Oak Ridge Reservation is home to a world-leading research and manufacturing park, with major federal programs in the areas of science, environmental management, nuclear fuel supply, and national security. The work in Oak Ridge is done at three primary sites, including the Oak Ridge National Laboratory, the East Tennessee Technology Park, and the Y-12 National Security Complex.

The tours of the Oak Ridge Reservation will focus on Science, National Security, Environmental Cleanup, and Security Services. Four of the five tours listed here will allow you to get in depth information about the area you choose, and the windshield tour of the Oak Ridge Reservation will provide just a glimpse of all areas. Please choose which tour you would like to experience. Please note that the tours of ORNL, Wackenhut, and ETTP are limited to 100 individuals.

It is extremely important that you read and understand the citizenship policy, prohibited items, and footwear requirements for these tours. ONLY U.S. CITIZENS CAN PARTICIPATE.

Please choose (1) of the tours below when registering for the conference:

Oak Ridge National Laboratory Tour (Limit: 100 Participants)

The Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) is a U.S. Department of Energy multiprogram science and technology laboratory that conducts basic and applied research and development to create scientific knowledge and technological solutions that strengthen the nation's leadership in key areas of science; increase the availability of clean, abundant energy; restore and protect the environment; and contribute to national security. The tour of ORNL includes:

  • An ORNL Overview Briefing from Lab management;
  • A tour of the Graphite Reactor;
  • A tour of the Spallation Neutron Source; and
  • A tour of the National Center for Computational Sciences.

Y-12 National Security Complex Tour

The Y 12 National Security Complex is a premier manufacturing facility dedicated to making our nation and the world a safer place. Owned by the National Nuclear Security Administration, Y 12 plays a vital role in the Department of Energy's Nuclear Security Enterprise. The tour of Y-12 includes:

  • Y-12 Overview Briefing at the New Hope Center;
  • An opportunity to browse through the Y-12 History Room;
  • A bird's eye view of the Y-12 Plant from a viewing area on the Plant's south ridge; and
  • A tour of the Beta 3 Building, which houses the only surviving production equipment from the electromagnetic isotope separations process.
  • A tour of the Highly Enriched Uranium Materials Facility (HEUMF), the nation's central repository for highly enriched uranium and Y-12's first significant milestone in its quest for a modernized Uranium Center of Excellence

Wackenhut Central Training Facility Tour (Limit: 100 Participants)

Wackenhut Services, Inc. is contracted by The Department of Energy and the National Nuclear Security Administration to provide security services for the Oak Ridge Reservation, including the Y-12 National Security Complex, the Oak Ridge National Laboratory, the East Tennessee Technology Park, and the Federal Office Building Complex. Wackenhut's Central Training Facility is located in Oak Ridge, and is the location where security officers complete weapons and other counter-terrorism training. This tour includes:

  • A tour of the Tactical Training Facility;
  • A tour of the Live Fire Shoot House;
  • An opportunity to watch a K-9 SOS demonstration;
  • A tour of the Indoor Firing Range; and
  • A demonstration of the Remotely Operated Weapon System (ROWS).

Environmental Management Program Tour (Limit: 100 Participants)

The Oak Ridge Environmental Management Program is the largest Oak Ridge program, with cleanup programs underway to correct the legacies remaining from more than 50 years of energy research and weapons production. The program includes an aggressive effort to complete the majority of environmental cleanup by 2011, including the majority of the East Tennessee Technology Park (ETTP) site. This tour includes:

  • A windshield tour of the ETTP site, including a stop at an overlook that offers a bird's eye view of the K-25 Building, which is currently being demolished, and the TSCA Incinerator;
  • A discussion about Reindustrialization efforts underway in Oak Ridge to help strengthen the local community; and
  • A brief tour and discussion at the Transuranic Waste Processing Facility, which is responsible for the characterization and packaging of TRU waste for transportation and disposition at DOE's Waste Isolation Pilot Plant.

Oak Ridge Reservation Windshield Tour

The U.S. Department of Energy Oak Ridge Reservation is home to a world-leading research and manufacturing park, with major federal programs in the areas of science, environmental management, nuclear fuel supply, reindustrialization, and national security. These programs occur at several sites in Oak Ridge, including ORNL, ETTP, Y-12, and the Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education (ORISE). This windshield tour includes:

  • A driving tour of the ORNL campus, which includes views of the Spallation Neutron Source, the Joint Institute for Biological Sciences, and the National Center for Computational Sciences;
  • A driving tour of Y-12, where you will see the newly constructed Highly Enriched Uranium Materials Facility, and listen to discussions about the history and current mission of the plant;
  • A windshield tour of ETTP to see environmental cleanup activities at the former Gaseous Diffusion Plant; and
  • A drive by of ORISE, who is focused on scientific initiatives to research health risks from occupational hazards, assess environmental cleanup, respond to radiation medical emergencies, support national security and emergency preparedness, and educate the next generation of scientists.